WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
16 June 2006 
 
 (06-2928) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
1 
 
Notification under Article 7.3 of the Ag reement on Import Licensing Procedures for 2005  
 
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
 
Addendum  
  
 The following communication, dated 13 June 200 6, has been received from the delegation of 
the European Communities. 
 
_______________ 
  Outline of systems
 
 
1. The object of the import licensing system is to ensure a sound administration of the EC’s 
WTO tariff rate quotas listed in answer to question 2.   The relevant legislation related to the import 
licensing system for these tariff quotas is mentioned in the reply to question 5.  As regards the 
requirements for applicants for import licences see reply to question 6. 
Purpose and coverage of licensing  
 
2. See answer to question 1.  The products covere d by the tariff quotas mentioned in answer to 
question 1 are as follows:  
Quota No. Products cove red Tariff item numbers 
Live bovine 
animals 1 (a) Heifers and cows (other than for slaughter) of 
the mountain breeds: grey, brown, yellow, spotted 
Simmental and Pinzgau  
(b) Bulls, cows and heifers (other than for 
slaughter) of the following mountain breeds: spotted Simmental, Schwyz and Fribourg ex 0102 90 05, ex 0102 90 29, 
ex 0102 90 49, 
ex 0102 90 59, ex 0102 90 69  
ex 0102 90 05, ex 0102 90 29, 
ex 0102 90 49, ex 0102 90 59, ex 0102 90 69, 
ex 0102 90 79 
Live young male 
bovine animals 2 Live young male bovine animals of a weight not 
exceeding 300 kg inte nded for fattening 0102 90 05, 0102 90 29, 0102 
90 49   
High quality beef and frozen buffalo meat 3 I. (a) Meat of bovine animals, frozen 
- Boneless -- Buffalo meat 
 
II. (a) Meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled Meat of bovine animals, frozen  
 ex 0202 30 90 
 
ex 0201 ex 0202 
                                                      
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
Page 2  
 
  Quota No. Products cove red Tariff item numbers 
  Edible offal 
- Of bovine animals, fresh or chilled -- Thick skirt and thin skirt 
- Of bovine animals, frozen 
--Thick skirt and thin skirt 
 
II. (b) Boneless meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled 
Edible offal of bovine animals: thick skirt and 
thin skirt, fresh or chilled  
 ex 0206 10 95 
 
ex 0206 29 91 
 
ex 0201 30 00  
ex 0206 10 95 
 
  II. (c) Boneless meat of bovine animals, fresh or 
chilled 
Boneless meat of bovine animals, frozen: 
- Other Edible offal of bovine animals: 
- Thick skirt and thin skirt, fresh or chilled 
- Thick skirt and thin skirt, frozen  
II. (d) Boneless meat of bovine animals, fresh or 
chilled Boneless meat of bovine animals, frozen: 
- Other 
Edible offal of bovine animals: - Thick skirt and thin skirt, fresh or chilled 
- Thick skirt and thin skirt, frozen ex 0201 30 00 
  
 
ex 0202 30 90  
ex 0206 10 95 
ex 0206 29 91  
ex 0201 30 00 
   
ex 0202 30 90 
 ex 0206 10 95 
ex 0206 29 91 
  II. (e) Meat of bovine animals, fresh,  chilled or 
frozen  
Meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled : - Other cuts with bone in, other 
- boneless 
Meat of bovines animals, frozen: - Other cuts with bone in, other 
- boneless 
Thick  and thin bovine skirt, fres h or chilled 
Thick and thin bovine skirt, frozen 
 
II.  (f) Meat of bovine animals, fresh,  chilled or frozen  
Meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled : 
- Other cuts with bone in, other - boneless 
Meat of bovine animals, frozen: 
- Other cuts with bone in, other - boneless 
Thick  and thin bovine skirt, fres h or chilled 
Thick and thin bovine skirt, frozen  
 
 ex 0201 20 90 
ex 0201 30 00 
 ex 0202 20 90 
ex 0202 30 
ex 0206 10 95 ex 0206 29 91 
 
  
 
ex 0201 20 90 ex 0201 30 00 
 
ex 0202 20 90 ex 0202 30 
ex 0206 10 95 
ex 0206 29 91 
Frozen meat of bovine animals 4 Meat of bovine animals, frozen 
Edible offal - Of bovine animals, frozen 
-- Thick skirt and thin skirt 0202 
  
0206 29 91 
Frozen beef 
intended for processing 5 Meat of bovine animals, frozen 
- Unseparated or separated forequarters - Boneless 
Edible offal 
- Of bovine animals, frozen -- Thick skirt and thin skirt  
0202 20 30 0202 30 
 
 0206 29 91  G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
 Page 3 
 
 
  Quota No. Products cove red Tariff item numbers 
Frozen thin skirt 
of bovine animals 6 Edible offal 
- Of bovine animals, frozen -- Thin skirt (whole)   
 ex 0206 29 91 
Live sheep and 
goats and meat of 
sheep and goats 7 Live sheep and goats, other than pure-breeding 
animals 
 
Live sheep and goats, other than pure-bred 
breeding animals Meat of sheep or goats, fresh chilled or frozen 
 
Meat of sheep or goats, fresh, chilled or frozen ex 0104 10 
ex 0104 20 
 
ex 0104 10 
ex 0104 20 0204 
 
0204 
Dairy Current access 8 Butter, at least six weeks old, of a fat content by 
weight of not less than 80% but less than 82%, 
manufactured directly from milk or cream without 
the use of stored materials, in a single, self-contained and uninterrupted process 
 
Butter, at least six weeks old, of a fat content by weight of not less than 80 % but less than 82 %, 
manufactured directly from milk or cream without 
the use of stored materials, in a single, self-contained and uninterrupted process which may 
involve the cream passing  through a stage where 
the butterfat is concentrated and/or fractionated (the processes referred to as "Ammix" and 
"Spreadable") ex 0405 10 11  
ex 0405 10 19 
 
  
ex 0405 10 30  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  Cheese for processing 
 
Whole Cheddar cheeses (of the conventional flat 
cylindrical shape of a net weight of not less than 33 kg but not more than 44 kg and cheeses in 
cubic blocks or in parallelepiped shape, of a net 
weight of 10 kg or more) of a fat content of 50% or more by weight in the dry matter, matured for 
at least three months 0406 90 01 
 
ex 0406 90 21 
  
 
  
ex 0406 90 21 
  Cheddar made from  unpasteurised milk, of a fat 
content of 50% or more, by weight, in the dry 
matter, matured for at least nine months, of a free-
at-frontier value per 100 kg net, of not less than: - 334,20 EUR in whole cheeses 
- 354,83 EUR for cheeses of a net weight of not 
less than 500 g - 368,58 EUR for cheeses net weight less than 
500 g 
The expression whole cheeses means :  
  –  Cheeses of the conventional flat cylindrical 
shape of a net weight of not less than 33 kg 
but not more than 44 kg 
-    Cubic blocks or parallelepipeds of cheese of a   
net weight of 10 kg or more  G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
Page 4  
 
  Quota No. Products cove red Tariff item numbers 
Dairy Minimum 
access 9 Skimmed-milk powder 
 Butter and other fats and oils derived from milk 
 
 
 
  
 
  0402 10 19 
 0405 10 11  
0405 10 19  
0405 10 30  
0405 10 50  
0405 10 90  0405 90 10  
0405 90 90 
 ex 0406 30 10 
 
ex 0406 90 13 
  Processed Emmentaler 
 
Emmentaler 
 Processed Gruyère 
 
Gruyère, Sbrinz  
Cheddar 
 Cheese for processing 
 
Pizza cheese, frozen, cut into pieces each 
weighing not more than 1 g, in containers of a net 
content of 5 kg or more, of a water content, by weight, of 52% or more, and a fat content by 
weight in the dry matter  of 38% or more ex 0406 30 10 
 
 ex 0406 90 15 
 0406 90 21 
 
0406 90 01  
ex 0406 10 20 
ex 0406 10 80  
  Fresh (unriped or uncured) cheese including whey 
cheese, and curd, other than pizza cheese 
 
Other grated or powdered cheese  Other processed cheese 
 
  
Blue-veined cheese ex 0406 10 20  
 
 
ex 0406 10 80  
0406 20 90  
 0406 30 31  
0406 30 39  
0406 30 90 
   
Bergkäse and Appenzell 
Fromage fribourgeois, Vacherin Mont d'Or and Tête de Moine  
Edam 
Tilsit 
Butterkäse 
Kashkaval Feta of sheep’s milk or buffalomilk  
Feta, other  
Kefalo-Tyri 0406 40 10  
0406 40 50  
0406 40 90  
0406 90 17 
0406 90 18 
 
0406 90 23 0406 90 25 
0406 90 27 
0406 90 29 
   0406 90 31 
0406 90 33 
0406 90 35  G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
 Page 5 
 
 
  Quota No. Products cove red Tariff item numbers 
  Finlandia 
Jarlsberg  Cheese of sheep’s milk or buffalo milk 
Pecorino 
Other 
Provolone 
Caciocavallo Danbo, Fontal, ,Fynbo,Havarti, Maribo, Samso
Gouda 
Esrom, Italico, Kernhem, Saint-Paulin  Cheshire, Wensleydale, Lancashire, Double 
Gloucester, Blarney,  Colby, Monterey 0406 90 37 
0406 90 39 0406 90 50  
ex0406 90 63 
0406 90 69 
0406 90 73  
ex0406 90 75  ex0406 90 76  
0406 90 78 
ex0406 90 79  ex0406 90 81  
  
  Camembert 
Brie Exceeding 47% but not exceeding 52%
Exceeding 52% but not exceeding 62%
Exceeding 62% but not exceeding 72%
Exceeding 72%
Other 0406 90 82 
0406 90 84 0406 90 86 
0406 90 87 
0406 90 88  
0406 90 93 
0406 90 99 
Manioc 10 Manioc 0714 10 
Manioc, 
arrowroot, salep 
and similar roots and tubers 11 Manioc (casava), other than pellets of flour and 
meal 
Arrowroot, salep and similar roots and tubers with high starch content ex 0714 10 
 
ex 0714 90 
Sweet potatoes 
and manioc 
starch 12 (a) Sweet potatoes 
- Other than for human consumption 
 
(b) Sweet potatoes 
- Other than for human consumption  
(c) Manioc starch  
 0714 20 90 
 
 
 0714 20 90  
ex 1108 14 00 
Broken rice 13 Broken rice intended for the production of 
foodstuffs of tariff heading 1901 10 1006 40 00 
Millet 14 Millet  1008 20 00 
Cane sugar 15 Raw cane sugar for refining 1701 11 10 
Cane or beet 
sugar 16 Cane or beet sugar  1701 
Garlic 17 Garlic 0703 20 00 
Preserved 
Mushrooms 18 Preserved mushrooms 2003 10 20 
2003 10 30 
0711 51 00 
Bran, sharps and other residues 19 Bran, sharps and other residues of wheat and 
cereals other than maize and rice falling within 
tariff headings  2302 30 10 
2303 30 90 
2302 40 10 
2302 40 90 
Preparations of a 
kind used in 
animal feeding 20 Preparations of a kind used in animal feeding 2309 90 31 
2309 90 41 
2309 90 51 G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
Page 6  
 
  Quota No. Products cove red Tariff item numbers 
Certain pigmeat 
products 21 Carcasses and half-carcasses fresh, chilled or 
frozen   
Cuts of domestic  swine, fresh, chilled or frozen, 
with or without bone, excluding tenderloin 
presented alone  
 Loins and hams boneless, fresh, chilled or frozen 
 
 Tenderloins, fresh, chilled or frozen 
 
 Sausages, dry or for spreading, uncooked 
Other sausages 
 Preserved meat of domestic swine 0203 11 10 
0203 21 10  
ex 0203 
 
 
 ex 0203 19 55 
ex 0203 29 55 
 ex 0203 19 55 
ex 0203 29 55 
 1601 00 91 
1601 00 99 
 ex 1602 41 
ex 1602 42 
ex 1602 49 
Certain pigmeat products 22 Meat of swine, fresh, chilled or frozen: 
- Fresh or chilled: 
--- of domestic swine 
---- loins and cuts thereof, bone-in - Frozen: 
---of domestic swine 
----bellies, streaky and cuts thereof  
 
 
0203 19 13  
 
0203 29 15 
Poultry and 
turkey products 23 Chicken carcass, fresh, chilled or frozen 
 
Chicken cuts, fresh, chilled or frozen   
 
 Turkey meat, fresh, chilled or frozen 0207 11 and 0207 12 
 
ex 0207 13 and              ex 0207 14 
 
0207 24 0207 25 ex 0207 26 ex 0207 27 
Products in the 
egg sector and 
egg albumin 24 Poultry eggs, for consumption, in shell 
 
Eggs yolks   
 
 Bird eggs, not in shell 
 
 Egg albumin 0407 00 30 
 
0408 11 80 0408 19 81 
0408 19 89 
 0408 91 80 
0408 99 80 
 3502 11 90 
3502 19 90 
Common and 
durum wheat 
 
  25 
 
 
  Quality common and durum wheat 
 
 
Low and medium quality common wheat   1001 10 00  
 1001 90 99 
 
 1001 90 99 
Barley 26 Feed and malting barley 1003 00 90 
Maize and Grain 
Sorghum 27 Maize and grain sorghum 1005 90 00 
1007 00 90 
Worked oats 28 Worked oats ex 1104 22 98 
Rice 29 Husked brown rice 
 Semi-milled or wholly milled rice 1006 20 
 1006 30  G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
 Page 7 
 
 
  Quota No. Products cove red Tariff item numbers 
Bananas 30 Fresh bananas, other than plantains  0803 00 19 
Grape juice and 
grape must 31 Grape juice (including grape must): 
 - Of a density exceeding 1.33 g/cm3) at 20° C: 
--Of a value not exceeding 22 ECU/100 kg net 
weight 
-- Other 
 - Of a density not exceeding 1.33 g/cm3 at 20° C: 
-- Of a value exceeding 18 ECU/100 kg net 
weight: --- Concentrated 
-- Of a value not exceeding 18 ECU/100 kg net 
weight: --- Other  
  
2009 69 11 
 
2009 69 19 
  
2009 69 51 
  
2009 61 90  
2009 69 90 
 
3. The system applies in the European Community  to the above-mentioned products originating 
in third countries.  
4. See answer to question 1. As referred to in the answer to question 1, the licensing system 
covers the relevant WTO tariff quotas.  The EC considers the method adopted to be the most 
appropriate to administer these tariff rate quotas.  
5. The relevant legislation for the administration of import licences for the tariff quotas 
mentioned in the answer to question 2 is: 
Quota No. Relevant legislation 
Live bovine 
animals 1 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1081/99 of 26 May 1999 (OJ  L 131) as amended 
 
Live young male 
bovine animals 2 Commission Regulation (EC) No 992/2005 of  
29 June 2005 (OJ L 168). 
High quality beef 
and frozen 
buffalo meat 3 Commission Regulation (EC) No 936/97 of 27 May 1997 (OJ L 137) as amended). 
 
Frozen Meat of bovine animals 4 Commission Regulation (EC) No715/2005 of   
12 May 2005 (OJ L 121). 
Frozen beef intended for 
processing 5 Commission Regulation (EC) No 716/2005 of  
12 May 2005  (OJ L 230). 
Frozen Thin skirt of bovine animals 6 Commission Regulation (EC) No 996/97 of 3 June 1997 (OJ L 144), as last 
amended by Commission Regulation (EC) 649/2003 of 10 April 2003 (OJ L 95).  
Live sheep and 
goats and meat of 
sheep and goats 7 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1439/95 of 26 June 1995 (OJ L 143) as amended . 
Dairy current 
access 8 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2535/20 01 of 14 December 2001 (OJ L 341). 
Dairy minimum 
access 9 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2535/20 01 of 14 December 2001 (OJ L 341) 
Manioc 10 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2248/2 004 of  27 December 2004  (OJ L 381).   
Manioc, 
arrowroot, salep 
and similar roots 
and tubers 11 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2449/96 of 18 December 1996 (OJ L 333) as 
amended by  G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
Page 8  
 
  Quota No. Relevant legislation 
Sweet potatoes 
and manioc starch 12 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2402/9 6 of 17 December 1996 (OJ L 327). 
Broken rice 13 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2058/96 of 28 October 1996 (OJ L 276). 
Millet 14 Commission Regulation (EC) No2133/2001 of 30 October 2001 (OJ L 287). 
Cane sugar 15 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1159/2003 of 30 June 2003 (OJ L 162) 
Cane or beet 
sugar 16 Commission Regulations (EC)  No 1464/95 of 27 June 1995 (OJ L 144) and No 
1159/2003 of 30 June 2003 (OJ L 162). 
Garlic 17 Commission Regulation (EC) No 565/2002 of 2 April 2002 (OJ L 86).  
Preserved Mushrooms 18 Commission Regulation (EC)  1864/2004 of 26 October 2004 (OJ L 325).   
Bran, sharps and 
other residues 19 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2133/2001 of 30 October 2001 (OJ L 287) 
Preparations of a 
kind used in animal feeding 20 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2133/2001 of 30 October 2001 (OJ L 287). 
 
Certain pigmeat 
products 21 Commission Regulation (EC) No  1458/2003 of  18 August 2003 (OJ L 208)  as 
amended, . 
Certain pigmeat 
products 22  Commission Regulations (EC) No 1432/94 of 22 June 1994 (OJ No L 156) as 
amended and  (EC) No 2198/1995 of 18 September 1995 (OJ L 221)   
Poultry and turkey products 23 Commission Regulations (EC) No 1431/94 of 22 June 1994 as amended and  (EC) 
No 1251/96 of 28 June 1996 (OJ L 161) as  amended  
Products in the 
egg sector and 
egg albumin 24 Commission Regulation (EC) No 593/2004 of 3  March 2004 (OJ L94)  
Common and 
durum wheat 25 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2133/2001 of 30 October 2001 (OJ L 287) 
[Quality common and durum wheat] 
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2375/2002 of  27 December 2002 (OJ L 358), as 
last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1111/2003 of 26 June 2003 (OJ 
L 158) [Low and medium quality wheat). 
Barley 26 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2305/2003 of  29 December 2003 (OJ L342),  
[Feed barley] Commission Regulation (EC) No 2377/2002 of  27 December 2002 (OJ L 358), as 
last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1112/2003 of 26 June 2003 (OJ 
L158) [Malting barley] 
Maize and grain sorghum 27 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1839/95 of 26 July 1995 (OJ L 177) as amended  
Worked oats 28 Commission Regulation (EC) No 2094/2004 of 8 Decembe r 2004 (OJ L 362) 
Rice 29 Commission Regulation (EC) No 327/98 of 10 February 1998 (OJ L 37) as 
amended   
Bananas 30 Council Regulation (EEC) No 404/93 of 13 February 1993 (OJ L 47) as amended)  
and Commission Regulation (EC) No 896/2001 of 7 May 2001 (OJ L 126) as last  amended  
Grape juice and 
grape must 31 Commission Regulation (EC) No 1472/2003 of 20 August 2003 (OJ L 211). 
 
 The licensing is statutorily required.  The legi slation does not leave designation of products to 
be subjected to licensing to administrative discret ion.  The system cannot be abolished without 
legislative approval.  
 
Procedures  
 
6. Answer to questions 6.I to VIII and to 6. XI.  Questions 6.IX and X are not relevant.  G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
 Page 9 
 
 
   The information related to the allocation of th e quotas, the formalities for licence application, 
the amount of goods allocated to each importer is pub lished in the Official Journal of the European 
Communities (see answer to question 5).  There is no derogation from the licensing requirement. 
Relevant aspects of the licensing procedures per quota are given below:  
Quota No. Short description of Procedures 
Live bovine 
animals 1 The two quotas are each divided into tw o parts. 70% are allocated to importers 
from the Community who are able to furnish proof of having imported animals covered by the quotas during the 36 months preceding the year of import. 
The allocation among these importers is made in proportion to their imports of 
animals covered by the tariff quotas during the 36 months preceding the year of import in question . 
30% of the volumes is allocat ed to applicants who can furnish the proof of having 
imported at least 75 live bovine animals covered by CN code 0102 from third countries in the 12 months precedin g the year of import in question. 
The tariff quotas are opened for periods running from 1 July to 30 June of the 
following year (year of import) 
Applicants for import rights must be entered in a national VAT register. An 
application for an import right can only be submitted to the competent authority in the Member State in which the applicant is  entered in a national VAT register and 
must be submitted by 15 June prior to the relevant year of import.  
The competent authorities in the Member States communicate to the Commission all the applications for the right to import not later than the 10th working day 
following the closing date for submission of applications. The Commission 
calculates to what extent applications ca n be accepted. If the quantities in respect of 
which applications are made exceed th e quantities available, the Commission 
applies a uniform reduction percentage. Afte r the notification of allocations from 
the Commission, import licences are issued on application until 15 March of the year of import Quantities, for which import licences have not been asked till this 
date, are subject of a further allocation. 
Live young male 
bovine animals 2 The tariff quota is opened for the period 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006. 
Each quarter of the quota year The competent authorities in the Member States communicate to the Commission all the app lications for import licenses .  The 
Commission calculates as soon as possible to what extent applications can be 
accepted.  If the quantities in respect of which applica tions are made exceed the 
quantities available, the Commission applies a reduction coefficient. 
Quantities not covered by import licence applications each quarter   2004 shall be 
transferred to the next allocation quarter . 
 
High quality beef 
and frozen buffalo meat 3 The tariff quotas are annual tariff quotas. 
For US/Canada the quota is administrated at Community level and opened on a monthly basis.  Applicants for import licences must be natural or legal persons, 
who at the time applications are submitted have been engaged for at least 12 
months in trade in beef and veal between Member States or with third countries and who are registered in a VAT re gister in a Member State. 
For the other third countries concerned the quota is administrated by those 
countries themselves.  The application for an import licence must be lodged with the competent authorities in the Member States and accompanied by a certificate of 
authenticity issued by the authorities in exporting countries. The competent 
authorities in the Member States issue import licences only after they are satisfied that all the information on the certificate of authenticity is correct and licences are 
issued immediately thereafter. 
In order to facilitate commercial opera tions, exceptional cases are specified in 
which import licences can be issued af ter having lodged a security which 
corresponds to the full customs duty. This security will be released after certain 
conditions have been fulfilled. G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
Page 10  
 
  Quota No. Short description of Procedures 
Frozen Meat of 
bovine animals 4 The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota, opened on 1 Ju ly of each year. 
Applications for import rights with proof of import performance have to be submitted by the operators to the competent authorities in the Member States where 
they are entered in the VAT register.  
Member States inform the Commission of the applications submitted  The 
Commission decides as soon as possible to  what extent applications can be 
accepted. If the quantities in respect of which applications are made exceed the 
quantities available, the Commission applies a fixed reduction coe fficient. After the 
notification of allocations from the Commi ssion, import licences may be issued as 
soon as possible by the competent auth ority in the Member States.Licence 
applications can be lodged solely in the Member State where the applicant has 
applied for import rights.  Licences canno t be transferred and their utilisation is 
subject of reinforced provisions to ensure  that the licence-holder  effectively imports 
the licence quantity. 
Frozen beef 
intended for 
processing 5 The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota,  opened on 1 July of each year.  The tariff 
quota is divided into two quantities. 40,000 tonnes of beef intended for manufacture 
of preserved food and 10,700 tonnes of frozen beef intended for manufacture of other processed products. 
An application for import rights is valid onl y if it is lodged by, or on behalf of a 
natural or legal person who, at least once during 12 months prior to the opening of the tariff quota, has been active in producing processed products containing beef 
and who is entered in a national VAT register.  
Furthermore, the application has to be lodged by, or on behalf of an approved processing establishment. For each quantity referred to above only one application 
for import rights may be accepted in re spect of each approved processing 
establishment.  
  Applications for import rights have to be submitted to the competent authority in 
the Member State where the operator is en tered in the VAT register. The competent 
authority in the Member State has to forward to the Commission a list of applicants and quantities applied for together with the approval numbers of the processing 
establishment concerned. 
  The Commission calculates as soon as poss ible to what extent applications can be 
accepted. If the quantities in respect of which applications are made exceed the 
quantities available, a fixed reduction coefficient is applied. Within his allocation 
rights a processor may apply for an import licences until 20 February 2006 at the latest. The application has to be lodged in the Member State where the import rights 
are registered.  Quantities for which import licence applications have not been 
lodged within that date are subject to a further allocation of import rights. After the notification of allocations from the Commission, import licences may be issued 
immediately by the competen t authority in the Member States. Licence applications 
can be lodged solely in the Member St ate where the appli cant has applied for 
import rights.  Applicants have to approach only one administrative organ. Imports 
are only known to the competent authority in the Member States and to the 
Commission. 
Frozen Thin skirt 
of bovine animals 6 The tariff quota is an annual tariff  quota, opened on 1 July of each year. 
700 tonnes of the tariff quota are allo cated to Argentina and 800 tonnes are 
allocated to other third countries. The q uota of 700 tonnes is administered by 
Argentina itself. The application for an import licence must be lodged within the 
competent authorities in the Member States and must be accompanied by a 
certificate of authenticity issued by the empowered authority in Argentina. The 
competent authorities in the Member States may issue import licences only after 
they are satisfied that all th e information on the certificate of authenticity is correct.  
The import licence is issued  immediately thereafter.  G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
 Page 11 
 
 
  Quota No. Short description of Procedures 
  The quota of 800 tonnes is administrated at Community level. Applicants for 
import licences must be natural or legal persons who, when submitting their application must prove to the satisfaction of the competent authorities in the 
Member State concerned that they have tr aded in beef and veal with non-member 
countries at least once during the previous 12 months. They must be entered in a 
national VAT register. The application for an import licence must be lodged within 
the competent authorities in the Member State in which the applicant is registered, only during the first ten days of each year  of import (1 July to 30 June). The 
competent authorities in the Member States have to notify to the Commission on 
10th working day following the end of the period for lodging the applications, the total of the quantity covered by the a pplications. The Commission calculates as 
soon as possible to what extent applications may be accepted. If the quantities in 
respect of which applications are made exceed the quantities available, the Commission fixes a single percentage reduction to be applied to the quantities 
applied for.  Following the Commission’s decision on acceptance of applications, 
licences are issued as rapidly as possibl e by the competent authorities in the 
Member States. 
Live sheep and 
goats and meat of 
sheep and goats 7 The tariff quotas are annual quotas. The administration procedure of the tariff 
quotas is on a First Come First Served basis and provided for in Commission 
Regulation (EC) No 2202/2004 according the rules laid down in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93. 
 
Dairy current 
access 8 Chapter I of Regulation 2535/2001 “imports under quotas opened by the 
Community on the basis of an import licence alone” sets out the tariff quotas, the duties to be applied and the maximum qua ntities to be imported each year as well 
as procedures to request and obtain quot a allocations. The main features are as 
follows: 
  Applicants for import licences must be  approved in advance by the competent 
authority of the Member State in  which they are established. 
The authority concerned shall assign an approval number to each approved importer. Approval shall be granted to all importers who submit a request to the 
competent authorities before 1 April together with the following: 
(a) proof that during the prev ious calendar year they impo rted into and/or exported 
from the Community at least 25 tonnes of milk products covered by Chapter 04 of 
the Combined Nomenclature in at least four separate operations; 
  (b) any document and information adequately substantiating their identity and 
status as traders, in particular: 
(i) documents relating to business accounts and/or tax arrangements drawn up in 
accordance with national law, and if provided for under national law: 
(ii) their VAT number, 
(iii) their registration in the commercial register. 
2. For the purposes of the proof required under 1(a): (a) only customs declarations showing the name and address of the applicant shall 
be taken into account;  
(b) inward- and outward-processing transactions shall not be considered as imports or exports. 
 G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
Page 12  
 
  Quota No. Short description of Procedures 
  Before 20 June each year, the competen t authorities of the Me mber States shall 
send lists of approved importers to the Commission, which shall forward them to 
the competent authorities of the other Member States. Only importers included on a 
list shall be authorised to apply for licences during the period from 1 July to 30 
June following. 
 
Importers may lodge only one licence appli cation each for the same quota in the 
integrated tariff of the European Communities (TARIC) (hereinafter called "quota 
number"). 
Licence applications shall be admissible only where applicants attach a written declaration that they have not submitted, and undertake not to submit, any other 
applications for the same quota under the import arrangements covered by this 
Chapter during the current period. 
  The Commission shall decide as quickly as possible to what extent applications 
may be accepted and shall inform the Member States of its decision. 
Licences shall be issued to applicants whose applications  have been notified under 
Article 15 no more than five working days after the Member States have been informed of the decision referred to in the first subparagraph. 
2. Where the total quantity covered by licence applications exceeds the quantity 
fixed, the Commission shall apply an allocation factor to the quantities applied for. Where the total quantity covered by licence applications is less than the quantity 
available, the Commission shall determine the quantity remaining, which shall be 
added to that available for the following period of the same import year. 3. Import licences shall be valid for 150 days from the actual day of issue under 
Article 23(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000
. 
Dairy minimum 
access 9 Allocation procedure included in chapter I of Regulation 2535/2001 “imports under 
quotas opened by the Community on the basis of an import licence alone”. See 
under point 8 for the main charasteristics of this procedure. 
 
Manioc 10 The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota. The imports under the tariff quota are 
subject to the presentation of an import licence which is issued subject to the 
submission of an export certificate to the European Community issued by the 
Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Government of Thailand.  Application for import licences have to be submitted to the competent authorities in 
the Member States accompanied by the ex port certificate.  The import licence has 
to be issued on the fifth working day following the day on which the application 
was lodged, unless the Commission has informed the competent authorities of the 
Member States that the conditions laid down in the relevant legislation have not been fulfilled.  
Manioc, 
arrowroot, salep 
and similar roots and tubers 11 The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota managed on calendar year basis. The 
imports under the tariff quota are subject to the presentation of an import licence 
that is issued subject to the submission of  a certificate of origin, except as regards 
imports from products originating in China.  Furthermore in the case of products 
originating in Indonesia and China, the licence application has to be accompanied 
by an export licence issued by the comp etent authority in these countries.  
Applications for import licences have to be submitted to the competent authorities 
in the Member States. The competent authorities in the Member States have to 
notify to the Commission on the day following the day on which applications are lodged the application that have been lodged.  The competent authorities issue the 
import licences unless they receive notif ication from the Commission that the 
conditions laid down in the relevant legislation have not been fulfilled.   G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
 Page 13 
 
 
  Quota No. Short description of Procedures 
Sweet potatoes 
and manioc starch 12 The tariff quotas are annual tariff quotas . Licence applications have to be lodged 
with the competent authority in the Memb er State on Tuesdays, or if that is a 
working day on the first such day followi ng. Licence applications and licences have 
to show the country of origin and the licence carries with it an obligation to import 
from that country. Licence applications for sweet potatoes originating in China 
have to be accompanied by an export certif icate issued by the Chinese Government. 
The competent authorities in the Member States have to notify to the Commission on the day following the day on which applications are lodged the application that 
have been lodged. The Commission determines and notifies to the competent 
authorities in the Member States the extent to which licence applications are to be accepted. If the quantities applied for ex ceed those availabl e the Commission 
applies and notifies a uniform percenta ge reduction. The competent authorities 
issue the import licences as soon as they  receive notification from the Commission. 
Broken rice 13 The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota. Applications for import licences have to 
be accompanied by the proof that the appli cant is a natural or legal person who has 
carried out a commercial activity  in the rice sector for at least 12 months and who is 
registered in the Member State in which the application is submitted.  On the day on which licence applications are lodged, the competent authorities in the Member 
States have to inform the Commission on the applications submitted.  Import 
licences are issued on the 11th working da y following that on which the application 
was lodged provided that the quantities applied for do not exceed the tariff quota 
volume.  If the quantities in respect of wh ich licences have been applied for exceed 
the quantities available, the Commission shall fix a single percentage of acceptance for the quantities applied for and notify this to the competent authorities in the 
Member States.  
Imports are only known to the competent authority in the Member States to which 
the import licence application has been submitted and to the Commission. 
The applicant for an import licence must approach only one administrative organ. 
Millet 14 The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota. The administration procedure of the tariff 
quota is on a First Come First Served basis and is provided for in Commission 
regulation 2133/2001 according the rules laid down in Commission Regulation 
R.2454/93 
Cane sugar 15 The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota. Applications for import licences must be 
submitted by refiners to the competent authority in the Member State of import 
concerned and must be accompanied by a decl aration to the effect  that the applicant 
undertakes to refine the quantity of sugar in question before 1 July following the date of import.  The competent authorities in the Member States have to inform the 
Commission of application submitted in order in which they are recorded. The 
Commission has to inform the Member States as soon as possible of the quantities, which can be allocated to importers. The competent authorities in the Member 
States issue import licences. Refiners applying for licences must, within three 
months of the end of the time limit laid down for refining provide the Member State which issued the licence with proof of refining which the later recognises. 
Entitlement under the tariff quota is conditiona l on the presentation,  at the time for 
release for free circulation, of a certif icate of origin from the third country 
concerned. The import of the raw sugar ha s to take place in the Member State, 
which issued the import licence. Imports ar e only known to the competent authority 
in the Member States to which the import licence application has been submitted, to 
the exporting country and to the Commission. G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
Page 14  
 
  Quota No. Short description of Procedures 
Cane or beet 
sugar 16 The tariff quota is an annual tariff quo ta. Applicants for import licences must be 
natural or legal person entered in a VAT register. Import licences are issued by the competent authorities in the Member States. The allocation of import licences for 
the quota volume allocated to  India is subject to the su bmission of a certificate of 
origin issued by the exporting country and the allocation of import licences for the 
quota volume reserved for the ACP countries is subject to the submission of a 
movement certificate EUR 1 issued by th e exporting countries. Imports are only 
known to the competent authority in the Member States to which the import licence 
application has been submitted, to the exporting country and to the Commission. 
Garlic 17 The tariff quota is annual, administered  however on a quarterly basis, (split in four 
three month quarters, starting in June of  each year). Tariff quotas are allocated 
respectively to China, to Argentina and to all other countries taken together as a 
group. Imports under the tariff quota are subject to the presentation of an import 
license, issued after application lodged with the competent authorities in the Member States. These authorities inform the Commission of all applications 
submitted, on the day following the day on which applications are lodged. Import 
licences are issued on the fifth working day following that on which applications 
are lodged, provided that the Commissi on takes no special measures in the 
meantime. If the quantities applied for exceed the quantity available for the specific 
trimester, the Commission sets a flat-rate percentage reduction for the applications in question and suspends the issue of licences in respect of subsequent applications 
for that particular quarter. Quantities ar e allocated as follows: 70% to traditional 
importers and 30% to newcomers. Import licences shall be valid only for the quarter for which they have been issued.  
Preserved 
Mushrooms 18 The tariff quota is an annual tariff quo ta. The tariff quota, namely the quantity 
allocated to China on the one hand, and the quantity allocated to other countries on 
the other hand is allocated as follows: 95% to traditional importers and 5% to 
newcomers. However, this condition does not apply for quantities allocated to 
Bulgaria and Romania. Applications for import licences must be submitted to the competent authorities in the Member States. The competent authorities in the 
Member States have to inform the Commission of applications submitted.  Import 
licences are issued on the fifth working day following that on which applications 
are lodged provided that the Commission takes no special measures in the 
meantime. If the quantities applied for exceed the quantity available, the 
Commission allocates the excess from the re serve of the tariff quota. If after 
allocation of the reserve, the quantities ap plied for exceed the quantity available, 
  the Commission sets a flat-rate percentage reduction for the applications in question 
and suspends the issue of licences in respect of subsequent applications. As regards 
imports from China, entitlement under the tariff quota is conditional on the presentation, at the time for release for fre e circulation, of a certificate of origin 
from China. As regards imports from Bulgaria and Romania, entitlement under the 
tariff quota is conditional on the presenta tion, at the time for release for free 
circulation, of an EUR 1 certificate. Imports are only known to the competent 
authorities in the Member States to which the import licence applications have been 
submitted, to the exporting country and to the Commission. 
Bran, sharps and 
other residues 19 The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota. The administration procedure of the tariff 
quota is on a First Come First Served basis and is provided for in Commission 
regulation 2133/2001 according the rules laid down in Commission Regulation 
R.2454/93  
Preparations of a 
kind used in animal feeding 20 The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota. The administration procedure of the tariff 
quota is on a First Come First Served basis and is provided for in Commission regulation 2133/2001 according the rules laid down in Commission Regulation 
R.2454/93. Imports are only known to the competent authorities in the Member 
States and to the Commission. Importers must only approach one administrative organ.  G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
 Page 15 
 
 
  Quota No. Short description of Procedures 
Certain pigmeat 
products 21 The tariff quotas are annual tariff quotas, opened on a quarterly basis.  
Applicants for import licences must be natural or legal persons, who at the time applications are submitted, prove to the satisfaction of the competent authorities of 
the Member States that they have been engaged in trade with third countries in 
pigmeat products for at least the prece ding 12 months. Retail and catering 
establishments selling their products to th e final consumer are excluded from the 
benefits of this system. Imports are only known to the competent authority in the Member States to which the import licence application has been submitted and to 
the Commission. 
  Licence applications may be submitted during the first 7 days of the month before 
the quarterly quota period (1 July, 1 October, 1 January and 1 April) to the competent authorities in the Member States. The applicant for an import licence 
must approach only one administrative organ. The competent authorities in the 
Member States have to notify to the Commission, on the third working day following the end of the application submission period, of applications submitted. 
Applications are examined simultaneo usly by the Commission. The Commission 
decides as quickly as possible to what extent quantities may be awarded in respect of the quantities requested in the import licence applications. If the quantities in 
respect of which licences have been applied for exceed the quantities available, the 
Commission fixes a single percentage of acceptance for the quantities applied for. 
Where this percentage is less then 5%, it is possible that the Commission will not 
award the quantities applied for and release the security. The Commission 
calculates the quantities remaining which are added to the quantity available in respect of the following period in the same year. 
Certain pigmeat products 22 The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota, opened on a quarterly basis. 
Applicants for import licences must be natural or legal persons, who at the time 
applications are submitted, prove to the satisfaction of the competent authorities of 
the Member States that they have been engaged in trade with third countries in 
pigmeat products for at least the prece ding 12 months. Retail and catering 
establishments selling their products to th e final consumer are excluded from the 
benefits of this system.  Imports are only known to the competent authority in the Member States to which the import licence application has been submitted and to 
the Commission. 
  Licence applications may be submitted during the first 7 days of the month before 
the quarterly quota period (1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October) to the competent authorities in the Member States. The applicant for an import licence 
must approach only one administrative organ. The competent authorities in the 
Member States have to notify to the Commission, on the third working day following the end of the application submission period, of applications submitted. 
Applications are examined simultaneo usly by the Commission. The Commission 
decides as quickly as possible to what extent quantities may be awarded in respect of the quantities requested in the import licence applications. If the quantities in 
respect of which licences have been applied for exceed the quantities available, the 
Commission fixes a single percentage of acceptance for the quantities applied for. 
Where this percentage is less then 5%, it is possible that the Commission will not 
award the quantities applied for and release the security. The Commission 
calculates the quantities remaining which are added to the quantity available in 
respect of the following period in the same year. G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
Page 16  
 
  Quota No. Short description of Procedures 
Poultry and 
turkey products 23 The tariff quotas are annual tariff quotas, opened on a quarterly basis. 
Applicants for import licences must be natural or legal persons, who at the time applications are submitted, prove to the satisfaction of the competent authorities of 
the Member States that they have impor ted not less than 50 tonnes of products 
falling within the scope of Regulation (EEC) No 2777/75 in each of the two 
calendar years preceding the year in which the licence application is lodged.  Retail 
and catering establishments selling thei r products to the final consumer are 
excluded from the benefits of  this system. Imports are only known to the competent 
authority in the Member States to which the import licence application has been 
submitted and to the Commission. Licence applications must be submitted to the competent authority of the Member State in which the applicant is established or 
has set up his registered office. Licence applications may be submitted during the 
first 7 days of the month before the quarterly quota period (1 July, 1 October, 1 January and 1 April) to the competent authorities in the Member States. The 
applicant for an import licence must approach only one administrative organ. The 
competent authorities in the Member States have to notify to the Commission, on the fifth working day following the end of the application submission period, of 
applications submitted. Applications are examined simultaneously by the  
  Commission. The Commission decides as quickly as possible to what extent 
quantities may be awarded in respect of the quantities requested in the import licence applications. If the quantities in respect of which licences have been applied 
for exceed the quantities available, the Commission fixes a single percentage of 
acceptance for the quantities app lied for. Where this percentage is less then 5%, it 
is possible that the Commission will not award the quantities applied for and 
release the security. The Commission calculates the quantities remaining which are 
added to the quantity available in respect of the following period in the same year. 
Products in the egg sector and egg albumin 24 The tariff quotas are annual tariff quotas, opened on a quarterly basis.  
Applicants for import licences must be natural or legal persons, who at the time applications are submitted, prove to the satisfaction of the competent authorities of 
the Member States that they have imported not less than 50 tonnes (shell egg 
equivalent) of products falling within th e scope of Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75 
(excluding hatching eggs) and (EEC) No 2783/85 in each of the two calendar years 
preceding the year in whic h the licence application is lodged or who are approved 
in accordance with Article 6 (1) of Council Directiv e 89/437/EEC (OJ L 212 of 
22.7.89) for the treatment of egg products. Retail and catering establishments 
selling their products to the final consumer are excluded from the benefits of this 
system. Imports are only known to the compet ent authority in the Member States to 
which the import licence application has been submitted and to the Commission. 
Licence applications must be submitted to  the competent authority of the Member 
State in which the applicant is established or has set up his registered office.  
  Licence applications may be submitted during the first 7 days of the month before 
the quarterly quota period (1 July, 1 October, 1 January and 1 April) to the 
competent authorities in the Member States. The applicant for an import licence 
must approach only one administrative organ. The competent authorities in the Member States have to notify to the Commission, on the fifth working day 
following the end of the application submission period, of applications submitted. 
Applications are examined simultaneo usly by the Commission. The Commission 
decides as quickly as possible to what extent quantities may be awarded in respect 
of the quantities requested in the import licence applications. If the quantities in respect of which licences have been applied for exceed the quantities available, the 
Commission fixes a single percentage of acceptance for the quantities applied for. 
Where this percentage is less then 5%, it is possible that the Commission will not award the quantities applied for and release the security. The Commission 
calculates the quantities remaining which are added to the quantity available in 
respect of the following period in the same  year. Licences are issued as quickly as 
possible after the Commission has taken its decision.  G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
 Page 17 
 
 
  Quota No. Short description of Procedures 
Common and 
durum wheat 25 For quality common and durum wheat, the tariff quota is an annual tariff quota. The 
administration procedure of the tariff quota is on a First Come First Served basis and is provided for in Commission Regul ation (EC) No 2133/2001 according the 
rules laid down in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 
 
For low and medium quality common wheat, the tariff quota is an annual tariff 
quota, divided in 3 sub-quotas: 572,000 tonnes for the USA, 38,000 tonnes for Canada and 2.371,600 tonnes for all other third countries. The sub-quota for all 
third countries is opened on a quarterly basis. License applications may be 
submitted every Monday to the competent au thorities in Member States (only one 
application by Member State permitted). The competent authorities in the Member 
States have to notify to the Commission the same day. If the quantities in respect of 
which licenses have been applied for exceed the quantities available, the Commission fixes a single percentage of acceptance for the quantities applied for, 
within a maximum period of 3 working days. Otherwise, the licenses can be 
granted on the 4
th working day following the application. 
Barley 26 For feed barley, the tariff quota is an annual tariff quota opened  year round. License 
applications may be submitted every Monday to the competent authorities in 
Member States (only one application per Member State permitted). The competent 
authorities in the Member States have to notify to the Commission the same day. If the quantities in respect of which licen ces have been applied for exceed the 
quantities available, the Commission fixes a single percentage of acceptance for the 
quantities applied for, within a maximum pe riod of 3 working days. Otherwise, the 
licenses can be granted on the 4
th working day following the application. 
 
For malting barley, the tariff quota is an annual tariff quota. License applications 
may be submitted every second Monday of each monthe to the competent 
authorities in Member States. The competent authorities in the Member States have to notify to the Commission the same day. If the quantities in respect of which 
licenses have been applied for exceed the quantities available, the Commission 
fixes a single percentage of acceptance fo r the quantities app lied for, within a 
maximum period of 3 working days. Otherwise, the licenses can be granted on the 
4
th working day following the application. 
Maize and grain 
sorghum 27 Licence applications shall be accompan ied by a written undertaking from the 
applicant to lodge, by the date of issue of the licence at the latest, a performance 
guarantee of an amount per tonne equal to the flat-rate duty reduction granted or to 
that of the reduction proposed in the tender.  Applications shall be valid only if:  
- they do not exceed the maximum quantity available for each deadline for lodging 
applications, and  
- they are accompanied by evidence that th e applicant's business  activity includes 
international cereals trading in the importing Member State.  
  Where a flat-rate reduction is adopted by the Commission, licences shall be issued, 
within the quantities available, no later than the Friday following the last day for 
submission. Should the applications made in respect of a week be for quantities 
exceeding those for maize and sorghum stil l available for import into Spain, the 
quantities for which licences are issued shall be the quantities indicated in the 
applications, reduced by a uniform percentage.  
Where a duty reduction is fixed under a tendering procedure, licences shall be 
issued, on condition that the tenderer has lodged an application for an import 
licence before a specified deadline. The competent authorities shall notify the Commission of the quantities for which 
licences have been issued each week no later than the third working day of the 
following week.  Import licences shall, for the purpose of determining their period of validity, be 
deemed to have been issued on the day of expiry of the deadline for lodging tenders 
or applications. G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
Page 18  
 
  Quota No. Short description of Procedures 
Worked oats 28 The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota. 
The administration procedure of the quota is on a First Come First Served basis and is provided for in Commission Regulation (EC) No 2094/2004 according the rules 
laid down in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.  
 
Rice 29 The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota. 
Applicants for import licences must be natural or legal persons, who in one of the 
three years preceding the date of submissi on of the application were engaged in 
trade in rice or submitted import licence  applications covering rice and are 
registered in the Member State where the application is made.  
Imports are only known to the competent authority in the Member States to which the import licence application has been submitted and to the Commission. 
The applicant for an import licence must approach only one administrative organ. 
Applications for import licences have to be submitted to the competent authorities in the Member States in the first 10 working days of the first month corresponding 
to one quarterly tranche. Import licences  are issued under specific quarterly 
tranches per country of origin. Quantities not used in respect of a tranche are 
carried forward to the following tranche of the relevant quota. Quantities not 
covered by licences in September are made available under a supplementary 
tranche in October.  The competent authorities of the Member State have to notify to the Commission 
within two working days of the closing date for the submission on the applications 
submitted.  Within 10 days of the closing date for notification the Commission shall decide to 
what extent the applications may be accepte d.  Where the total applied for exceeds 
the availability per tranche and country, the Commission sets a reduction 
percentage. It also fixes the quantities available under the following tranche. Within 
three working days of the date of publication of this decision import licences shall be issued. 
Bananas 30 The tariff quotas are annual tariff quotas, opened on a quarterly basis. 
The tariff quotas A and B are distribu ted for an amount of 83% to traditional 
operators and 17% to non-traditional operators. The tariff quota C is distributed for an amount of 89% to traditional operators  and 11% to non-traditional operators 
• "Traditional operators
" means economic agents, whether natural persons 
or entities having legal personality, individual agents or groups, established in the Community , who , for their own account, purchased a minimum quantity of 
bananas originating in third countries from the producers or , where applicable, 
produced, consigned and sold such products in the Community during one of the years of the reference period used op to  31 December 2004. These operations are 
called "primary imports". The minimum qua ntity is 250 tonnes imported in any one 
year of the reference period. This mini mum quantity is 20 tonnes where marketing 
or import concerns only bananas with a length of 10 centimetres or less; 
• "Traditional operators A/B
" means traditional operators who have carried 
out the minimum quantity of primary imports of "third-country bananas" and/or 
"non-traditional ACP" bananas in accordance with the definitions in Article 16 of 
Regulation (EEC) No 404/93, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1637/98(8); "Traditional operators C
" means traditional operators who have carried out the 
minimum quantity of primary imports of "traditional ACP bananas" in accordance 
with the definitions in the abovementioned Article 16, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1637/98.  G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
 Page 19 
 
 
  Quota No. Short description of Procedures 
  • The reference quantity for each traditional operator A/B and C  who 
submits a written application no later than 15 September of the year, preceding the year for which the tariff quota is opened, shall be established on the basis of the 
extent to which they used the imported licenses issued to them or transferred to 
them under Article 20 for 2004 (in case of imports to be carried out in 2006) and 
2005 (in case of imports to be carried out in 2007), respectively. 
 
  • The Member States shall notify th e Commission of the sum of the 
reference quantities. Using the informati on received, and in light of the total 
quantities available under tariff quotas A/B and C, the Commission sets a single 
adjustment coefficient  to be applied to each operator's reference quantity. The 
competent authorities shall notify each operator of their reference quantity as 
adjusted by the adjustment coefficient. The competent authorities in each Member 
State are as listed in the Annex to the Regulation.   
  • "Non-traditional operators "  
• (a) have been engaged independently  and on their own account in the 
falling within CN code 0803 00 19 in the two years immediately preceding the year 
in respect of which registration is sought;  
• (b) by virtue of this activity, have imported produce to a declared customs 
value of EUR 1200000 or more during the period referred to in point (a); and 
•  (c) do not have a reference quantity as a traditional operator under the 
tariff quota. 
• Operators may be registered , in a single Member State of their choice, as a 
non-traditional operator under tariff quota A/B and/or tariff quota C. 
• Traditional operators under a tariff quota may be registered as non-
traditional operators under the tariff quota for which they do not have a reference 
quantity. 
However, traditional operators C may be registered as non-traditional 
operators under tariff quota A/B only if they can supply proof that they have 
imported third-country bananas and/or  non-traditional ACP bananas to the 
declared customs value specified in point (b).  
  For the purposes of registration , operators shall send relevant documentation to the 
competent authority. Applications for registration shall be submitted by 1 October 
each year. 
• In order to have their registration renewed , operators shall provide the 
competent authorities with proof that they have actually imported on their own 
account at least 50 % of the qu antity allocated to them fo r the current year. For the 
purposes of  renewing registration for 2002, that percentage shall be 30 %. 
•  
  Applications for renewal shall be submitted by 1 October each year and be 
accompanied by copies of import licences used, proof of payment of the customs 
duties due on the date of the completion of customs import formalities, and a copy 
of the import licence(s) issued  for the current quarter. 
At the same time as the operators concerned apply for registration or renewal of 
their registration, they shall also request their annual quota allocation . Such 
requests: 
• (a) may not cover a quantity greater than 12,5 % of the total quantity 
allocated annually to non-traditional operators; and 
•  (b) shall be accompanied by proof th at a security of EUR 150 per tonne 
requested has been lodged. The security shall be released in stages, in proportion to 
the quantities actually imported, where operators furnish proof of dispatch and unloading in the customs territory of the Community. 
 G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
Page 20  
 
  Quota No. Short description of Procedures 
  • Traditional operators A/B may submit licence applications  only under 
tariff quota A/B. Traditional operators C may submit licence applications only under tariff quota C. Traditional operators may submit licence applications under 
the other tariff quota if they are regist ered as non-traditiona l operators for that 
quota. 
• Non-traditional operators may submit import licence applications under 
tariff quotas A/B or C, or under both if they are registered for quotas A/B and C. 
For the first three quarters of the y ear, an indicative quantity expressed as 
the same percentage of available qua ntities from each of the tariff quotas 
may be fixed for the purposes of issu ing import licences. It may be decided 
that applications for licences submitted by  a given operator may not in total 
exceed a set percentage of the reference quantity.  
  • For each quarter, applications for import licences shall be submitted to the 
competent authorities of the Member State listed in the Annex to this Regulation 
during the first seven days of the month preceding the quarter for the licences are
being issued. Applications for import licences shall be submitted to the competent authorities of the Member State which established the reference quantity, in the 
case of traditional operators, and of th e Member in which the operators are 
registered, in the case of non-traditional operators. 
• The competent authorities shall notify the Commission of the quantities 
covered by  licence applications within two working days of the end of the 
application period. 
• The competent authorities shall issue import licences
 not later than the 
23rd day of the month in which the application is made. 
The term of validity  of import licences shall run from the date on which they are 
actually issued and shall expire on the seventh day of the fourth month in which 
they are issued. The date of actual issue shall be included in the term of validity of a licence. Unused quantities
 covered by a given licence shall be reallocated to the 
same operator - whether holder or transferee - upon application, for use in a 
subsequent quarter but still within the y ear of issue of the original licence. 
  • The security for the initial licence shall be retained in proportion to the 
quantities not used up. 
• Rights arising under licences are transferable  to a single transferee 
operator on specific terms. Rights may be transferred only: 
• (a) between traditional operators, under a single tariff quota, either A/B or 
C, as the case may be;  
• (b) from traditional operators to non- traditional operators registered under 
Article 7, under a single tariff quota, either A/B  or C, as the case may be. 
(c) between non-traditional operators regist ered under a single tariff quota, either 
A/B or C, as the case may be. 
Grape juice and 
grape must 31 The tariff quota is an annual tariff quota, running from 1 September to 31 August of 
the following year. 
The administration procedure of the tariff quota is on a First Come First Served 
basis and is provided for in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1472/2003 according 
the rules laid down in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93. 
 
  
7. Question 7 related to quantitative limit s is not relevant in the present case.  
8. The application for an import licence can only be re fused if either the relevant criteria are not 
fulfilled or the licence security has not been lodged.  Applicants can appeal to  courts in the Member 
States according to the legislation in force in the respective Member States. 
 
  G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
 Page 21 
 
 
  Eligibility of importers to apply for licence  
 
9. See reply 6.  In general there is no specific system of registration foreseen, all persons, firms 
and institutions can therefore apply. There is one  exception for dairy products, the procedure is 
explained under reply 6. 
Documentational and other require ments for application for licence  
 
10. A specimen of the import licence is included in the EC Regulations set out in answer to 
question 10 of the main notification for 2002. 
11. The import licence and other relevant customs documents as for any import.  A number of 
specific requirements as listed below are in place according to the product: 
Quota No. Documentation ot her than import licence 
Live bovine 
animals 1 Appropriate veterinary cer tificate; for bulls: a pedigree certificate; for female 
animals: a pedigree certificate or a certif icate of registration in a herd-book 
certifying the purity  of the breed. 
Live young male 
bovine animals 2 Appropriate veteri nary certificate 
High quality beef 
& frozen buffalo 
meat 3 Appropriate health certifi cates plus, in case of US/Canada, the certificate of 
authenticity. 
Frozen Meat of bovine animals 4 Appropriate health certificates 
Frozen beef for 
processing 5 Appropriate health certificate 
Frozen thin skirt 
of bovine animals 6 Appropriate health certificate, and in  case of Argentina a certificate of 
authenticity. 
Live sheep &  
goats & meat of sheep & goats 7 In the case of country-specific WTO ta riff quotas, the certificate of origin. 
Dairy current 
access 8 IMA-1 certificate 
Dairy minimum 
access 9 - 
Manioc 10 Export certificate 
Manioc, 
arrowroot, salep 
& similar roots & 
tubers 11 The certificate of origin and the export licence in cases of imports originating in 
Indonesia and China. 
Sweet potatoes & 
manioc starch 12 In the case of imports of sweet potatoes originating in China and manioc starch 
originating in Thailand, the export certificate 
 
Broken rice 13 On entry into free circulation, a written undertaking that all the goods entered will 
be processed within six months of the date of acceptance of the entry for free 
circulation. 
Millet 14 - 
Cane sugar 15 Certificate of origin from the third country concerned. 
Cane or beet 
sugar 16 Certificate of authenticity issued by the exporting country and the allocation of 
import licences for the quota volume reserved  for the ACP countries is subject to 
the submission of a movement certificate EUR 1 issued by the exporting countries 
Garlic 17  G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
Page 22  
 
  Quota No. Documentation ot her than import licence 
Preserved 
Mushrooms 18 As regards imports from China, entitlement under the tariff quota is conditional 
on the presentation, at the time for release for free circulation, of a certificate of 
origin from China.  As regards imports from Bulgaria, Poland and Romania, 
entitlement under the tariff quota is conditiona l on the presentation,  at the time for 
release for free circulation,  of an EUR 1 certificate. 
Bran, sharps & 
other residues 19 - 
Preparations of a 
kind used in animal feeding 20 - 
Certain pigmeat 
products 21 Appropriate health certificate 
Certain pigmeat 
products 22 Appropriate health certificate 
Poultry and 
turkey products 23 - 
Products in the 
egg sector & egg 
albumin 24 - 
Common and 
durum wheat 25 For high quality common and durum wheat, proof that the goods are held by the 
applicant, that the goods are ready for import and that the goods meet the quality 
criteria of Commission regulation 778/99 
 For low and medium quality common wheat, certificate of origin from the third 
country concerned. 
Barley 26 - 
Maize & grain  
sorghum 27 Proof that applicant’s business in cludes international cereals trading. 
Worked oats 28 - 
Rice 29 In case of imports from Australia and Thailand the original of the export 
certificate. 
Bananas 30 - 
Grape juice & 
grape must 31 - 
 
12. No. 
13. The issuance of import licence is subject to a secu rity.  The following provisions are in place: 
Quota No. Security 
Live bovine 
animals 1 Security required ensuring compliance with the obligation not to slaughter the 
imported animals. The security is released immediately if proof is supplied that 
the animals (a) have not been slaughtered within four months of the date of 
release for free circulation or (b) have been  slaughtered within that period in cases 
of force majeure . 
Live young male 
bovine animals 2 Security required ensuring compliance with the obligation that the imported 
animals will be fattened. The security is released immediately if proof is supplied 
that the young bovine animals (a) have been fattened in the farm or farms reported to the competent authority (b) for a period of at least 120 days from the 
date of importation or (c) have been slaughtered before the expiry of that period 
for heath reasons or have died as  a result of sickness or accident. 
High quality beef 
& frozen buffalo 
meat 3 Security required guaranteeing that the undertaking to import will be fulfilled 
during the period of validity of the licence. The security is released when the 
obligation to import has been fulfilled.     G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
 Page 23 
 
 
  Quota No. Security 
Frozen Meat of 
bovine animals 4 Security required guaranteeing that the undertaking to import will be fulfilled 
during the period of validity of the licence. The security shall not be released until proof has been produced that the titular holder of the licence has been 
commercially and logistically responsible for the purchase, transport and 
clearance for home use of the quantity of meat concerned. 
Frozen beef 
intended for 
processing 5 A security has to be lodged at the time of importation ensuring that the processor 
processes the entire quantity of meat imported into the required finished products 
in the designated establishment, within three months following the day of importation. The security is released when  this requirement has been fulfilled. 
Frozen Thin skirt 
of bovine animals 6 Security required guaranteeing that the undertaking to import will be fulfilled 
during the period of validity of the licence. The security is released when the 
obligation to import has been fulfilled. 
Live sheep & goats & meat of 
sheep & goats 7 No security is required 
Dairy current 
access 8 Security required guaranteeing that the undertaking to import will be fulfilled 
during the period of validity of the licence. The security is released when the obligation to import has been fulfilled. 
Dairy minimum 
access 9 Security required guaranteeing that the undertaking to import will be fulfilled 
during the period of validity of the licence. The security is released when the 
obligation to import has been fulfilled. 
Manioc 10 Security required guaranteeing that the imported quantities do not exceed the 
quantities covered by the import licence. 
Manioc, 
arrowroot, salep 
& similar roots & 
tubers 11 Security in order to guaranteeing th at the imported quantities do not exceed the 
quantities covered by the import licence. 
Sweet potatoes & 
manioc starch 12 Security required guaranteeing that the undertaking to import will be fulfilled 
during the period of validity of the licence. The security is released when the obligation to import has been fulfilled and the right to import under the licence 
has been exercised, namely on the day the import declaration is accepted and the 
product concerned put into free circulation. 
Broken rice 13 Security required guaranteeing that the imported broken rice will be processed 
into the product indicated in the im port licence. Where rice entered for free 
circulation has not been processed within  the specified time limit the security 
released is reduced by 2% for each of th e day by which the time limit is exceeded. 
Millet 14 Security required guaranteeing the quality of the product 
Cane sugar 15 Security required guaranteeing that  the undertaking to import will be fulfilled 
during the period of validity of the licence. The security is released when the 
obligation to import has been fulfilled. 
Cane or beet 
sugar 16 The application for an import licence can only be refused if the relevant criteria 
are not fulfilled. Applicants can appeal to courts in the Member States according 
to the legislation in force in  the respective Member States. 
Garlic 17 Security required in order to guar antee that the undertaking to import will be 
fulfilled during the period of validity of the licence. The security is released when 
the obligation to import has been fulfilled. 
Preserved 
Mushrooms 18 Security required guaranteeing that the undertaking to import will be fulfilled 
during the period of validity of the licence. The security is released when the 
obligation to import has been fulfilled. 
Bran, sharps & other residues 19 Security required guaranteeing the quality of the product 
Preparations of a 
kind used in 
animal feeding 20 Security required guaranteeing the quality of the product 
 G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
Page 24  
 
  Quota No. Security 
Certain pigmeat 
products 21 Security required guaranteeing that the undertaking to import will be fulfilled 
during the period of validity of the licence. The security is released when the obligation to import has been fulfilled. 
Certain pigmeat 
products 22 Security required guaranteeing that the undertaking to import will be fulfilled 
during the period of validity of the licence. The security is released when the 
obligation to import has been fulfilled. 
Poultry & turkey 
products 23 Security required guaranteeing that the undertaking to import will be fulfilled 
during the period of validity of the licence. The security is released when the 
obligation to import has been fulfilled. 
Products in the egg sector & egg 
albumin 24 Security required guaranteeing that the undertaking to import will be fulfilled 
during the period of validity of the licence. The security is released when the 
obligation to import has been fulfilled. 
Common and 
durum wheat 25 For quality common and durum wheat, se curity required guaranteeing the quality 
of the product.  
For low and medium quality common wheat, a 30 € security is required to avoid 
abandonment of import licences. The security  is released when the obligation to 
import has been fulfilled. 
Barley 26 For feed barley, a 30 € security is required to avoid abandonment of import 
licences. The security is released when the obligation to import has been fulfilled. 
 For malting barley, a 85 € security is required in order to guarantee quality of the 
product. When import license applicatio ns are accompanied by a certificate of 
conformity issued by FGIS of the United St ates of America, security is lowered to 
10€/t. The security is released upon proof of respect of the quota’s end-use 
provisions. 
Maize & grain 
sorghum 27 Security equal to the duty reduction is required to ensure imports meet quota’s 
destination requirements. 
Worked oats 28 Security required guaranteeing the good faith of the applicants. The security is 
released on the issue of the import licence. 
Rice 29 Security required guaranteeing the good  faith of the applicants. The security is 
released when the obligation to import has been fulfilled.  
Bananas 30 • Import licence applications shall be acco mpanied by proof that a security 
has been lodged under Title III of Regulation (EEC) No 2220/85. This security 
shall amount to EUR 50 per tonne. Non- traditional operators have to lodge a 
security of EUR 150 per tonne when requesting their annual quota allocation. 
Grape juice & grape must 31 In order to guarantee the end-use of the goods imported under this quota (non-
alcoholic) a lodging of security is mandatory : this security should cover the 
difference of duty between the erga omnes duty rate and the duty rate within the 
tariff quota (see Art.4 of Regulation 1472/2003) 
 
Conditions of licensing  
 
14. The validity of import licences is as follows: 
Quota No. Period of Validity of licences 
Live bovine 
animals 1 90 days, but not beyond the 30 June following their date of issue and the period of 
validity cannot be extended. 
Live young male bovine animals 2 90 days from their date of issue and no licence is valid after 30 June 2004. The 
period of validity of the import licence cannot be extended. 
High quality beef 
& frozen buffalo 
meat 3 Three months. However, their validity expires at the latest on 30 June following 
the date of issue and the period of validity cannot be extended. 
Frozen Meat of 
bovine animals 4 180 days from their date of issue. However, no licence is valid after 30 June 2004 
and the period of validity cannot be extended.  G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
 Page 25 
 
 
  Quota No. Period of Validity of licences 
Frozen beef 
intended for processing 5 120 days from their date of issue. However, no licence is valid after 30 June 2004 
and the period of validity cannot be extended. 
Frozen Thin skirt 
of bovine animals 6 The validity expires on 30 June following the date of issue.    
Live sheep & 
goats & meat of 
sheep & goats 7 - 
 
Dairy current access 8 The licence shall be valid from the day of issue until the end of the third month 
following. 
Dairy minimum access 9 Import licences shall be valid for 150 days from the actual day of issue.
 
Manioc 10 The period of validity of the import licence corresponds to the period of validity 
of the export certificate plus 30 days (i.e. 150 from the date of issue). 
Manioc, 
arrowroot, salep & similar roots & 
tubers 11 60 days from the date of issue. However, licences issued for products originating 
in Indonesia or China are valid for the duration of the period of validity of the export licence plus 30 days (i.e. 150 days from the date of issue). 
Sweet potatoes & manioc starch 12 In the case of the tariff quotas for sw eet potatoes, import licences are valid from 
the date of issue to the end of the fourth month following.  In the case of the tariff quota for manioc starch, import licences are valid from the date of issue to the end 
of the third month following 
Broken rice 13 Until the end of the third month following that of issue.  
Millet 14 - 
 
Cane sugar 15 Import licences are valid from their date of issue until 30 June thereafter. The 
period of validity can be extended. 
Cane or beet 
sugar 16 End of the third month following month of issue. 
Garlic 17 Valid only for the quarter for which they have been issued.   
Preserved 
Mushrooms 18 Valid six months from the effective date of issue but not beyond 31 December of 
the year concerned. 
Bran, sharps & 
other residues 19 - 
 
Preparations of a 
kind used in animal feeding 20 - 
 
Certain pigmeat 
products 21 150 days, but not beyond each quota period 
Certain pigmeat 
products 22 150 days, but not beyond each quota period 
Poultry & turkey 
products 23 150 days, but not beyond each quota period. 
Products in the 
egg sector & egg 
albumin 24 150 days, but not beyond each quota period. 
Common and 
durum wheat 25 For quality common and durum wheat :  
For low and medium quality common wheat, 45 days from the date of issue and 
the period of validity cannot be extended. 
Barley 26 For feed barley, 45 days from the date of issue and the period of validity cannot 
be extended. 
 
For malting barley, the security is valid until the end of the processing period (max. 330 days) and the period of validity cannot be extended. G/LIC/N/3/EEC/8/Add.1 
Page 26  
 
  Quota No. Period of Validity of licences 
Maize & grain 
sorghum 27 The period of validity of licences shall be: 
- 45 days in cases where a flat-rate reduction has been adopted by the Commission, 
- the period specified in the Regulation opening the invitation to tender, in the 
case of licences issued under a tendering procedure for the duty reduction (usually 
50 days). 
Worked oats 28 45 days from the day of their issue. The period of validity cannot be extended. 
Rice 29 From their actual day of issue until the end of the third month thereafter but not 
beyond 31 December of the year of issue. The period of validity cannot be extended. 
Bananas 30 From the date on which they are actually issued and expires on the seventh day of 
the fourth month following the month in which they are issued. The period of 
validity cannot be extended. 
Grape juice & grape must 31 - 
 
 
15.  In case of non-utilisation of an import licence, the security is not released.  In the case of 
partial use of the import licence, the security is partially released.  See also the replies given to 
question 13. In the case of frozen beef for processing  proof has to be provided that the meat has been 
processed into the relevant products.  In the case of wheat  and malting barley, the security for the 
product that does not meet the required quality and that it is not processed within the time limit, is not 
released.  The security is only released for the volume of imported wheat that complies with the 
relevant quality criteria. 
16. Import licences for high quality beef are transfer able.  Licences for products imported in the 
context of the other quota are usually not transferable. 
17. No.  
Other procedural requirements  
 
18. No. 
19. Not relevant. 
__________